Turbine windmill



- I 1,646873 Oct. 25,1927. M E. WILSON TURBINE WINDMILL Filed My e, 1928 2 seets-sneez 2 VP atente'cl Oct. 25, 1927.

TURBINE winnnjrtn.

application fiidfn'y e, 1928, siii No. rozegra;

This inventionfrelates to iinprovenients in windrni'llfconstr'uctions. 1 V

The priinary object of this invention 1s the provision ofl an i'n'iproved type of wndmil-l, embodying a nianually'` operated tnrblne -wheeh which may be conveniently andeffic'iently adjustedto Vperinit of the varlable V elosingl thereof, for i regulation ;to O btain yarious speeds of'rotation of'a driventshaft.

A further object of the inyention is the provisiou of a novel 'windniill construction einbodying a plural 'segmental cylindrical shapedl construction, the segments of'which may be relativelyadjust'ed'to provideran enclosed'cylinder, or which `lnay be laterally moved to provide vaines'having` various degrees of-extensjon, to perrnit the drive ofvan operated shaft at various speeds.

Other objects and adzantages of this invention will be a'pparent d'uringithecourse of'the following` detai'leddescription.

In the accoin-panying drawings, forming a part of tliis specification, andwherein similar reference characters des'ignatei "comesponding parts throughout the several Views,

mxFgure'wl isia side elevation of the` irnproved windrnill construction, vshowing the bladed construction thereofzopenand: ready for use.

.Figure 2 is. aplanview of theopen turbine wheel, showing the novel constructionthere Of.. f` w 1 Figure 3 is a, sectional view taken substantially Oncthe line 3+3 ofFgure-;

Figure 'Ltis a, fraginentary tranversefsectional View taken through the-turbine wheel construction' at. the top of: the windmill, and

h showing thel related parts thereof, this View being taken substantiallyon the line 4-4 of Figure 1. Figure wis a plan View of the wheel `of the windinillin closed' position. I

' Figures 6 are `sectional'Views taken substantially, on their respective lines in Fligur'e's`V1land13hf,thedrawingsr In the drawingsjlV hereinfor the purpose ofillustraltion is shown onlya preferredeni'- bodiinent of this invention, theletter` generally designatethe 'whichfrnay comprise a supporting tower. or derrick1 B,

rotatably supporting Aa Vertical sh-aft O thei'ein, which extends. .upwardly to thetop oftl'ie'windmill, andwhereon a novelwheel,

of an adjiiisftable turbinetype, Ispositionech the san'ie,havi ng ,rneans.Eto .operate the f same froin the tower B; The tower Bisof courseofV any approved construct1on',' an d may comprlse the Vlongtu ground at the 'Of the dinalcorner nieinbejrs '10;V 'slightly inclined :to

.the Vertical,which are sprea'd' at the base 11 of the derrick orftower; and which at" the 'i 'upper en'ds thereof' are attached lat'12; in.

:any app-roved -relationt;" suitable* cross' tbraees 18'v 'bei-ng' provided yto connect theI longitudinal members 10, as 'well'as-'diagonal rein` i 'forcing braces 14 being used for suchpuiu;

pOSe V I The shaft `extends Vertically thru the tower or der-nick B, and at its lower end the :same may be provided -wiith any .suitable gearing for OperatingV a fpu1np,"gen`erator,

dynaino, or the like. 't its upper enclfO Vthe sha-ft C extendsabove the connecting .cap12 ofthe tower B, and thereontlie wheel vconstruction-D 1s niounted, above the top of the-tower Bas'is-'conventional formation,

but in a inannerV which? is distinctly= novel; l`he wheel construction D preferably com-` prlses a.4 pair of hollow half cylindrical 'sections 24; and 25, ;which are complernentary in 'provldmg a; 'hollow cylinder, alsshown `in F igure-5l of the 'drawings vThese half '0r cylndrcal sections 24 and 25 each include ttop and: bottoinz fiat. walls 2.6 and 'f'respectiye'ly, connected by. meansA of Curved: angle '-ir0ns 28t0 tlie upper. and lower'margiznsfof i a, 180i3 vcuuwedlwall 29. 'he half cylinder' seginents24and25 havezpockets 34: and 35:

openingat the "chord" or fiat "facing sides -thereo so thatas the -seginents 24;` and 25 are. slid'f away tfroin'. eachotheiin opposite vdirectims7 the pocketsythereof are opened outWardly, onefafcingv` forwardly and' the other, facing rearwardly, inorden 'that' the Ves Vv mi i saineiinay take the wind inthe sarne relation is readily apparent, fr'orn Figure v6 porting angles 38;. ar`e provided, having the mo i v top of the shaft 20, with the 'channel groove 43 thereof facing upwardly; the top of the on the shaft 20 in a keyed relation thereon; the. shaft 20 of course extending thru the base of the flange41, as illustrated in Figure 4, so that the legs 50yof the said channel 41 face downwardly, and at the inner sides of which the .flanges 39 of the lower langles 38 of Said half Sections 24 and 25 are hooked 'in a sliding relation in the passageway of the channel 41. s a

Incident to the, above connection of the half cylinder sections'24 and 25 upon the upper and lower Channels and 41, it is readily appa-r-ent that said half sections 24 and 25 may be slid along the channels 40 and 41, to position them in a true cylinder forming relation, or in laterally extended relation to open the pockets 34 and .35 of Vthe drawings. Upper and lower expansionisprlngs 55 `and 56 are provided for normally nrging 'said cylinder segment/s 24 and 25, as is apparent from Figures l and 2 of the drawings. Of course, the channels 40 and 41 are ,greater in length than the diameter of the cylinder which is formed by the Sections 24 and v25, as is apparent from vFigure .5 of

i i the half cylinder Sections ;24 and 25 into an open extended relation to eXpos'e the pockets thereof; These springs and`56 are preferably'of the'V ordinary Spiral type, and at their ends they are connected by means of eye bolts or analogous expedients to the oppositel endsv of the Sections 24 and 25, that is, 'one end of each spring` is connected to gone corner at the open pocket side of the one segment, and the same spring at'its opposite ends` is connected to a vdiainetrcally opposed corner at the open pocket side of the other segment, so that incident to the inherent tendencyV of the Springs, the sections 24 and 25 will be forced in opposite directions along their supporting Channels, to

expose the ,openpocketed sides thereof, as

' illustratedin Figure v2 of the drawings.

- Referring to the means E by which the half 'cylinder sections 24 and 25 may be closed into a cylinder forming relation or by means of which they may be opened to Various degrees, to permit of theV shaft C to be driven at various Speeds, it is preferred to'provide a collar 60 in a splined relation upon the shaft C, at the end 20 between the upper and lower lsupporting Channels 40 and :41; this collar 60 having a narrow transverSe portion 61 extending at opposit'e sides of theaxi's of the shaft 20; and the portion 61 at one end being pivotally connected to a conn'ecting link 62 and at its opposite end being pivotally connected to a connecting link 63, preferably bymeans of eye bolts. The connecting links 62 and 63 are of course disposed at opposite Sides of thel 'shaft C, and they are respcctively connected byzmeans of eye bo'ltsto the diametrically opposed sides of the half cylindersections 24 and 25,,prefverably imm'ediately beneath the channel v40. lt is thus readily a-pparentithat if theycollar 00 is Slid downwardly upon the shaft end 20, incident to the connection of the half sections 24 and 25 thereto, by means of the links ,62 Vand 68, the said half Sections or cylindrical Sections 24 ,and 25 will be moved -towards each other into a 'cylindrical formation, asillustratedl in Figure 5.

` Anannular ring 67 is supported immediately at the top of the cap 12, beneath the llower wind wheel supporting channel 41, the same including'a ring-shaped base 68 and an upstanding attaching fiange 69; said annular ring 67 being supported for rotation with the -shaft 20, by means of Vertical rods 70 and 71, which are-connected in the base 68 thereof, as illustrated in; Figure 3 of the drawings, and at their upper ends being connected in the portion 61 of the.

splin'ed collar 60, at opposite sides of Shaft |end 20. i

Thefiange 69 forms a track, upon which the i diametrically opposed rollers and 76 bear; the `rollers having suitable depending link ro'd connections V77 and 78 respectively, which at their lower ends are connected to a transverse member 80 which has Aa cable 81 connected at its upp-er end thereto, and depending aXially within the tower B, alongside of the shaft O, to any convenient Operating mechanism, which the opera ator may move in order to draw the Cable 81 downwardly, and thus tln'u the member 80; the rods 77 and 78; ring 67; and rods 70 and 71 move the collar 60 downwardly for closing the half cylin'drical Sections 24 and 25 to the proper degree. i

From Figure 4 ofthe drawings it is apparent that the shaft C has a thru'st bearing on the top 12 of the tower B, illustrated at 85, and which may be of' any approved construction in order to 'sustain lthe weight and thrust of the wheel D.

From 'the foregoing description of this invention 'itis apparent that a `novel type of turbine windmill been provided, the wheel of whi'ch'is of novel character,which may be efidciently operated to close the same,

or eXtend. the same to various vdegrees, in order that the shaft may be operated at various speeds. The partsare simple in construction, and eflicie'n'tly arranged;

g Variousl changes ,inf'the' Shape, size, and

a'rrangement of parts may be'inarde tov the form ;of invention hei'ein shown and d'e-` scribed, without departing from the spirit of' thisinvention orfithe scope of the claims,

collap'sed o'r' laterally slid in'offsetrelationf to vary the effective Wind surfaces thereof'; i 2. As anjrarticlelof manufacture 'a 'wheel I clai'm' 1.' In a`-windmill constructionthe combi- -nation 'of a supporting framea shaft rotat- `vably supportedffbyfthe frame, a cylindrical shapejd Awind wheel for the shaft keyed there; 'to for rotation 'th'erewith, and including complementar'y'sectionsfwith4 means toV slida'bly inountthe same for slidable movementvln' parallelvplanes whereby the' samemay be for windi'nills comprising" a" supporting frame, and half cylindri'cally formed hollow Sections' having pockets therein vopen'atthe 'chord Sidev thereof, said'sections being slidably inounted on the fraine in facing relation at the open sides of said pockets to permitl the same'to be moved' together to forin a closed hollow cylinder, or laterally slid :in offset relation to eXpose various widths of the pocketsthereof for effective wind reception.l o

construction for windmills comprising a shaft, upper and lower Channels supported in spaced parallel relation by the Shaft having'respectively upper and lower spaced Vlegs defining the channel grooves, half cylin-' drical shaped hollow Sections having pockets therein, said pockets beingopenat a side of each of the said Sections, retaining flange i means supported at'the open sides at the top and bottom of each of said .Sections in engagement over the legs'of said Channels for Slidably mounting said sectionson said chan `nels with the pockets in facing relation, said p Channels being sufficiently long to permit the halfv cylindrical shaped Sections to be slid lthei'ealong into an offset relation to-expose various widths of the' pockets t-hereof,'and means to inove said half Sections into pocket facing relationV to form a cylinder of 'Said half sections, with the pookets thereof closed to entranoe of wind. i i

4. As an article of manufacture a wheel construction for windmills comprising a shaft, upper and lower Channels supported in spaced parallel relation by the shaft V having respectively upper and lower spaced legs defining the channel-grooves, half cylindrical .shaped hollow Sections having pockets fiange means supported atthe open sides 'off lthe topV and bottom of each'ofsaid VSections' .inengagement over-the legs of said Channels for slidably inounting said Sections on said.

therein, said pockets being open at' a` side of each of the said half sections, retaining 3. As an article of manufacture a wheel channelswiththepoclfets injfacing relation, I' 's'aid'pchannels being fs'uificiently' long to 'pe'r- `init the half'oyli'ndri'ca'l shapedfsections to be slid 'therealong into a-nolfset relation to 'expose various 'widthsof'the pockets ther'eof, ,means to 'move said Ihalf `'Sections into pocket facing 'relation to form a cylinder off 'said half sections,[withthe 'pockets thereof closed to entranoe' of wind, and' spring ineans connectingV saidV Sections togetherfand open mniea l 5. Ina' Vwi'ndmillthe combination Vof a supcombination 'of a ported by theishafttransversely at the'upper end ofsaid shaft, half cylindrical-sec-f ti'ons slidab'ly -mounted on said channel;

inormallyiirging them into an 'ofisetpoc'ket ineans, said Sections being hollow'and having.`v

open pockets therein, andimeans for moving Said half'cylin'drical Sections along the channel means to` open or c'lose the pocketsthereof for reception ,of wind.

7. In a windmill the combination of a a.

supporting tower, a shaft' rotatably' supported by the tower having an end extendingupwardly therefrom, channel means supported by the shaft transversely at the upper end of said shaft,v half. cy'lindrical Sections slid'ablyv mounted on said channel means, said Sections being hollow and having open pocketstherein, means for moving said half cylindrical o sections' along-the channel ineans to open orlf close thepockets thereof for reception vof wind, and spring means normallyurging l said Sections into apocket open relation;

8.' 'In a windmill the combination of a Supporting frame, a shaft rotatablycarried lby the supporting frame, a transverse member rigid with the shaft at theupper end thereof,

'ha'lf oylindrical Shaped sections 'fslidable along said member at'opposite sides the-reof and at opp-osite sides oftheshaft, saidsec-A tions being hollow andv having pocketsthere. in, means to normally open the pockets, and operating'means connected with said .Sections ,and extendingto substantially'the base of said supporting frame by means vof which:

said Sections may be relatively movedtowards each other into. a 'collapsed relation v with the pockets infclosed relation. 9. In .a windmill construction-;the ,come bination'of a supporting'tower, a. sha'ft ver-V tically supported infthe supporting tower for rotation, transverse Hmembers fcai'riedl in 1 spaced relation at the upper end of said shaft Vabove the top of said tower, hollow half cylindrical shaped 'Sections slidably mounted on said spaced transverse members having pockets with the open sides in faced relation,

'spring means normally urging said sections f into an offset relation to eXpose the pockets the said Sections, a Cable extending' along the shaft tothe base of the tower, and means f connecting' the Cable at its upper end to said collar Whereby upon pulling downwardly on the Cable. the Collar Will be slid along said i shaft to collapse said sections together tozT for rotatioi'i, ti'ansversemembers carried inA form a cylinder With. the pockets oflthe sections Closed. I W

10. In a Windmill construction the VCombination of a supporting tower, a shaft vertically supported in the supp-orting tower spaced relation at` the upper end wof said mounted on said spaced transverse members having pockets With the open sides in faced relation s rinO` means norinal'l urO'inU said :z b a;

sections into an offset relation to'expose the pockets thereof at opposite sides of the aXis of the shaft, a collar slidably mounted on said shaft, links connected With saidrcollar at opposite sides of the shaft and at vtheir outer lends said vlinks being connected With the saidv Sections, a vcable extendin'g along the shaft to thebase of the tower, and means connecting the Cable'at its'upper vendwto 'said Collai' Whereby upon pu'lling` downwardly on the Cable the 'collari Willlh-e slid along said shaft to Collapsesaid,Sections together to form a cylinder With the pockets of the Sections' closed, said last inentioned means including an annular tracksupported by the collar below said Sections, and roller means supported by the Cable at its upper end operating on said track.

MELVILLE E. WILSON. 

